Free Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long Page B

now is a good time …”
    “Oh, come on,” Kate snapped. “Even I know that story. I’m just surprised that you two—being engaged and all—wouldn’t have talked about it.”
    Jacob gave her a quelling glance. “What story?”
    Lilly played with the rim of her cup. “It’s silly, really,” she said after a moment.
    “Yes, it is silly to tell old tales,” Kate said.
    “I want to hear it anyway.” Jacob sipped his hot chocolate, his look encouraging Lilly to speak.
    She took a deep breath and avoided Kate’s bored expression. “I guess you don’t remember it, but when I was seven years old the community prayed for my healing because of a horse.”
    “May I have more chocolate?” Kate interrupted. “It will help me to concentrate. I’m so easily distracted around a handsome man.”
    Lilly kept her voice even. “You needn’t concentrate, Kate. Besides, you really must learn not to be swayed by every handsome man who picks you up—alone—at night.”
    “I would’ve been eight,” Jacob interrupted, seemingly oblivious to the byplay of the two women. “What happened?”
    Lilly sighed in faint exasperation. “My mamm allowed me the rare privilege of accompanying my daed on a veterinary call. It was a colicky horse over at the Millers’. The horse was down by the time we got there and thrashing its hooves in pain. I foolishly thought it would help my father if I tied up the horse’s legs while he turned to retrieve something from his bag. I got a blow to the head that left me unconscious for more than a week. I guess no one knew if I’d recover, but Derr Herr was merciful.”
    “You could have been killed.”
    “The Lord moves in mysterious ways,” Kate said.
    “I was close enough that the horse didn’t have as much power as he could have.”
    “I didn’t know.” His eyes softened. “Of course you’re afraid. It’s a wonder you’re even willing to drive.”
    “Ruler can be slow and stubborn under harness, but he’s quite docile when Jonah gets him ready. Daed sold his draft horse to buy him for me when he knew he had cancer.”
    Kate sighed loudly and plunked her elbow on the table and propped her head on her hand. She couldn’t have looked more bored.
    Lilly swiveled in her seat, turning slightly away from Kate, and fixed her eyes on Jacob.
    Jacob set his mug down. “I remember Daed selling your daed that horse. He was one of the most mellow horses we ever had.”
    “We got him from you? Why didn’t you say so?”
    Jacob shrugged. “I thought you knew.”
    “Big deal,” Kate said. “I can’t see why a horse purchase is of such importance. One horse is as good as another—as long as it can pull a buggy.”
    Jacob didn’t even look her way, keeping his focus on Lilly. “If you like, I can help you feel more comfortable around horses. Will you let me sometime?” Jacob reached across the table to grip Lilly’s hand.
    Her breath caught at his touch and she found herself nodding, lost in the intense pull of his eyes in the lantern light. “I—don’t know if I’d like it, but I’d be willing to try.”
    He smiled at her and she returned the look, feeling a flood of friendship wash through her at his words. And friendship was a good thing to have in a marriage …
    Kate broke the moment, drumming her fingers briefly before she abruptly rose from the table. “Jacob, my mamm will be worried. If you’re not ready to go just yet, I guess I’ll just walk. Thank you for the chocolate, Lilly.”
    Somehow, the girl managed to sound vulnerable, even to Lilly’s practical ears, and she withdrew her hand from Jacob’s.
    “You’d better go,” she murmured, not meeting his eyes.
    She saw them to the door and out onto the porch when Jacob turned back from the top step. He bent close and whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry, teacher. About today.”
    She smiled at him. “I’m sorry too.”
    He grinned and even the sound of Kate’s tinkling laugh on the cold night air could not